Mixing faucet



Feb. 12, 1952 J. L. HUDSON 2,585,247

MIXING F AUCET Filed July 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ill) r,

INVENTOR. James L. Hudson J. L. HUDSON Feb. 12, 1952 MIXING FAUCET 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28, 1949 JNVENTOR.

James L Hudson Patented Feb. 12, 1952 MIXING FAUCET James L. Hudson, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Kenneth Hudson Foundation, a. corporation of Michigan,

Inc., Detroit, Mich.,

Application July 28, 1949, Serial No. 107,295

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to mixing faucets, particularly mixing faucets for mixing soft drinks such as soda water and syrups, coke drinks or combinations of soda water and soft drinks. The

usual dispensing faucet requires the swinging of the lever handle to a particular position in order to release the syrup selected in operating the faucet. The operator may mistake the syrup or other soft drink and consequently waste the material drafted from the faucet.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a mixing faucet which obviates this difficulty by providing push buttons to establish the selection and then the operating lever need only be pulled forward to provide the properr.

mixture. A syrup and soda Water or two or more syrups and the soda water may be mixed with one pull of the lever. By pushing the lever rearward a high velocity jet may be usedto provide the foam or fizz on the soda water or other soft drink such as root beer. I have shown only tubes for two syrups or syrup and a soft drink in the drawings, but obviously a larger number of syrups or soft drinks can be provided by affording a larger number of dispensing tubes, valves and push buttons.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the dispensing faucet partly in section.

Figure 2 is a front elevation partly in section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure' 1.

.Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the mixing faucet showing how the plungers and push buttons operate.

Figure 6 is a similar section showing the hand lever after it has been swung to position for dispensing the liquid.

Figure 7 is the section on the line l-1 of Figure 5.

The body or the housing I of the faucet is a line casing which is provided with a plurality of bores or cylindrical chambers 2 here shown as 3 in number. A cylinder or fitting 3 is press-fitted into the cylindrical chamber 2. In this cylinder is guided a cylindrical valve stem 4 which is provided with a packing ring 5. This valve stem 4 .has an enlarged head 6 which is guided in the cylindrical chamber.

This head has an enlarged annularflange lat the upper end. A bushing 8 is press-fitted into the lower end of the cylindrical chamber 2 and the lower end of this bushing forms a valve seat. I The valve stem has a reduced portion 9. Bolted on the lower end of this stem and against a shoulder is valve lil-whicliis Y provided with a packing ll adapted to engage the lower end of the bushing 8 or the valve seat. Nut I 2-screws onto the reduced end of the valve stem and jams the valve ll up against the shoulder [3. The coiled expansion spring M bearing against the shoulder formed by the enlarged head 6 normally keeps the valve ,seated against the valve seat.

It will be seen from Figures 2 and 3 that three cylindrical chambers and three valves are shown. The liquid syrup, soda water or-otherjsoft drink comes into the body of the casing through tube 16 which is connected witha tank in which the material is stored and subjected to pressure. There are three of these tubes l5 shown in the drawings but obviously a greater number. could be provided. The center tube Ifiis intended for soda water. This tube is intersected at the rear by a cylinder H which contains the cylindrical valve [8 with valve stem is and valve 20; This is the same valve construction as the valves located at the front of the faucet but this valve controls a high speed jet that is discharged through the tube 2| as will later be described.

At the lower ends of the cylinders 3 the cylinder or fitting enlarges to form the valve, housing 22 and into this screws a sleeve 23 which engages the flange 24 on the end of the fitting 25 secured to the end of the dispensing tube 26. When the sleeve 23 is screwed in place it jamsthe flange 24 up against the shoulder 2! and connects the dispensing tube with the valve housing 22. The dispensing tubes 26 at the front of the faucet have a larger I. D. than the high speed jet tube 2| so that the liquid dispensed from the tubes 26 does not have the velocity that the liquid dispensed through the tube 2| has.

In the upper portion and at the front of the body I are a plurality of bored out guide-ways .28 in which are slida-ble plungers 29vwhich have the button-like heads 30. These plungers are screwed into th slides 31, each of which loosely catches a ball 32. Set-screw 33 holds the plunger 29 to the slide after the plunger has been screwed in place. Each slide has a beveled nub 34 which is arranged to snap behind the spring latch 35 when the plunger is pushed in. This holds the plunger in the inward position'against the pressure of coil spring 36 which tends to force the plunger to the outer position. Each of the heads 6 on the valve stems is provided with a spherical recess 31 in which the ball 32 can charge the liquids.

rest when the plunger is pushed in as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Refer to Figure '7. An actuating plate or yoke 38 is pivoted on trunnions 39 at the end of the yoke as shown in this Figure '7. The spring latch strips 35 are secured to the underside of this yoke by screws I39. The lever 40 has at its lower end reduced and threaded as at 4| so that the lever may be screwed into the plate 38. The coil springs 42 near the rear end of the actuating plate tend to hold the lever in its neutral or inactive position as shown in the full lines of Fieures 4 and 5.

The valve stem l8 at the rear of 'the faucet which guards the high velocity soda water line has on its head an upwardly projecting log 43. When a push button 30 is pushed in, the slide is pushed in and lug 34 snaps behind the latch spring 35 and locks the push button and slide in the inner position as shown in Figure 5. If now the dispensing lever 40 is pulled forward this will push downwardly on the ball or balls of the slides that have been pushed inwardly to select the liquids that are to be mixed and dispensed. The usual selection will be the center push button and one of the push buttons that controls one or more syrups. Hence the valves controlling the syrup line and the soda water flows out of the nozzle of the faucet and into the glass held thereunder. If it is desired to add a small amount of. another syrup before the glass is full, another push button may be pushed in and the two syrups and the soda water will flow into the glass. If it is desired to add foam or fizz on the top of the drink, the lever is thrown to the rear where it will encounter the lug 43 which controls the valve 20. This will be pushed down when the lever takes the position shown in the dotted line of Figure 4. Soda water under high velocity will now be dispensed through the nozzle of the faucet by reason of opening the passageway through the small diameter tube 2|.

The actuating plate or yoke 38 has above each ball a spherical recess 44 for retaining the ball and the slide and push button in the inward po sition when the yoke is tipped to the forward position shown in. Figure 6. When tipped to this position the spring latch releases lug 34 on the slide. When the lever is released spring 42 pulls the lever back to the neutral position and immediately after the yoke starts to turn back to its horizontal position the recesses 44 in the front of the yoke will release the ball or balls 32 and springs 36 shoot the slides, balls, and push buttons to the outer or forward position.

From the above description it will be apparent that a faucet is provided which can mix two or more syrups or soft drinks with soda water under conditions that will make the mixing practically fool-proof because the soda water operator has to select the syrup or syrups deliberately before the operating handle is pulled forward to dis- As already stated, this arrangement permits one or more of a number of syrups or soft drinks and soda water to be mixed. By a simple reversing operation of the lever it is possible to provide high velocity soda water to afiord foam or fizz on the top of the drink.

What I claim is:

1. A mixing faucet having in combination, a body provided with a plurality of guideways running fore and aft and provided with valve chambers intersecting the guideways at substantially right angles and directed up and down, each chamber having a valve seat, valves, one located in each valve chamber and arranged to engage a valve seat, passageways for connecting sources of liquid under pressure with the valve chambers. outlet passages connected with the valve chambers and controlled by said valves, each of the valves having fastened thereto an actuating head at its upper end, a plurality of slides and plungers slidable in said guideways in pairs, one slide and one plunger fastened together, each slide provided with a freely movable member catched in the slide and arranged to rest over the actuating head when the plunger and slide are pushed rearward, a lever handle fasten-ed to an actuating plate which may be moved to actuate the movable member or members in the slides to thereby force the valve or valves downwardly to open one or more of the valve chambers and discharge one or more liquids when one or more plungers are rearwardly disposed at the time the actuating member is actuated.

2. A mixing faucet having in combination a body'provided with a plurality of guideways running fore and aft and provided with. valve chambers intersecting the guideways at substantially right angles and directed up and down, each having a valve seat, valves, one located in each valve chamber and arranged to engage said valve seat, passageways for connecting sources of liquids under pressure with the valve chambers, each of the valves having fastened thereto an actuating head at its upper end, a plurality of slides and plungers slidable in said guideways in pairs, one slide and one plunger fastened together, each slide provided with a freely movable member catched in the slide and arranged to rest over the actuating valve head when the plunger and slide are pushed rearwardly, a lever handle with an actuating plate which may be moved to actuate the movable member or members in the slides when the hand lever is operated to thereby force the valve or valves downwardly to open one or more of the valve chambers and discharge one or more liquids when one or more plungers and slides are rearwardly disposed at the time the actuating member is actuated, the said freely movable members being balls.

3. A mixing faucet having in combination a body provided with a plurality of guideways running fore and aft and provided with valve chambers intersecting the guideways at substantially right angles and directed up and down, each having a valve seat, valves, one located in each valve chamber and arranged to engage said valve seat, each of the valves having fastened thereto an actuating head at its upper end, a plurality of slides and plungers slidable in said guideways in pairs, one slide and one plunger fastened together, each slide provided with a freely movable member catched in the slide and arranged to rest over the actuating head when the plunger and slide are pushed in, a lever handle with an actuating plate which may be moved to actuate the movable member or members in the slides when the hand lever is operated to thereby force the valve or valves downwardly to open one or more of the valve chambers and discharge one or more liquids when one or more plungers are rearwardly disposed at the time the actuating member is actuated, the said freely movable members being balls and the actuating plate having recesses to catch the balls when the actuating plate is operated.

4. A mixing faucet having in combination a body provided with a plurality of guideways running fore and aft and provided with valve cham- 'bers intersecting the guideways at substantially "right angles and directed up and down, each chamber having a valve seat, valves, one located in each valve chamber and arranged to engage said valve seat, each of the valves having fastened thereto an actuating head at its upper end, a'plurality of slides and plungers slidable in said guideways in pairs, one slide and one plunger fastened together, each slide provided with a "freelymovable member catched in the slide and arranged to rest over the actuating head when the plunger and slide are pushed in, a lever handle having an actuating plate which may be moved to actuate the movable member or members in the slides when the hand lever is operated to thereby force the valve or valves downwardly to open one or more of the valve chambers and discharge one or more liquids when one or more plungers are rearwardly disposed at the time the actuating member is actuated, the said freelyi'movable members being balls and the actuatin'g.plate having recesses to catch the balls I when the actuating plate is operated, the actuating plate and slide provided with a latch to hold the slides and plungers in the rearward position, said latches releasing when the actuating plate is operated.

5. A mixing faucet having in combination a body provided with a plurality of guideways running fore and aft and a plurality of valve chambers intersecting the guideways at substantially 1 right angles and directed up and down, a plunger in each guideway normally spring-pressed forwardly, a slide connected with each plunger, each slide provided with a recess, a freely movable member in each recess, an actuating plate stuaported for movement in said body and arranged when actuated to catch the freely movable members of such slides as are pushed to the rearward position, means for catching the slide and latching it in its'rearward position, a lever connected with the plate for operating the same, the said chambers having valve seats and a plurality of valves, one in each valve chamber, arranged to be contacted and operated by said freely movable members, whereby when the lever is swung the plate swings to contact the freely movable members of the slides that are pushed rearwardly and catched, thereby simultaneously opening selected valves to allow flow of liquid.

6. A mixing faucet having in combination a body provided with a plurality of guideways running fore and aft and a plurality of valve chambers intersecting the guideways at substantially right angles and directed up and down, a plunger in each guideway normally spring-pressed forwardly, a slide connected with each plunger, each slide provided with a recess, a freely movable member in each recess, an actuating plate supported for pivotal movement in said body and arranged when actuated to contact the freely movable members of such slides as are pushed to the rearward position, means for catching the slide and latching it in its rearward position, a lever connected with the plate for operating the same, the said chambers having a plurality of valve seats and a plurality of valves, one in each valve chamber, whereby when the lever is swung the plate swings to contact the freely movable members of the slides that are, pushed rearwardly and latched, thereby simultaneously opening selected valves to allow flow of liquid, each freely movable member being a ball, and the actuating plate having a recess to engage each ball when the plate is moved, said movement releasing the latch engagement between the plate and the slide and at the same time holding the slide by a recess in the plate catching a ball.

7. A mixing faucet having in combination a body provided with a plurality of guideways running fore and aft and a plurality of valve chambers intersecting the guideways at substantially right angles and directed up and down, a plunger in each guideway normally spring-pressed forwardly, a slide connected with each plunger, each slide provided with a recess, a freely movable member in each recess, an actuating plate pivoted for movement on said body and arranged when actuated to contact the freely movable members of such slides as are pushed to the rearward position, means for catching the slide and latching it' in its rearward position, a lever connected with the plate for operating thev same, the said chambers having valve seats and a plurality of valves one in each valve chamber, whereby when the lever 'is swung the plate swings to contact the -freely movable members of the slides that are pushed rearwardly and latched, thereby simultaneously opening selected valves to allow flow of liquid, each freely movable member being av ball, and the actuating plate having a recess to en gage each ball when the plate is moved, said movement releasing the latch engagement between the plate and the slide and at the same time holding the slide by the said recess in the plate catching the ball, each of said valves having a valve stem and an actuating head which the ball contacts to control the operation of the valve;

8. A mixing faucet having in combination a body provided with a plurality of guideways running fore and aft and a plurality of valve chambers intersecting the guideways at substantially right angles and directed up and down, a plunger in each guideway normally spring-pressed forwardly, a slide connected with each plunger, each slide provided with a recess, a freely movable member in each recess, an actuating plate supported for movement in said body and arranged when actuated to contact the freely movable members of sudh slides as are pushed to the rearward position, means for catching each slide and latching it in its rearward position, a lever connected with the plate for operating the same, the said chambers having valve seats and a plurality of valves, one in each valve chamber, arranged to be contacted and operated by said freely movable members, whereby when the lever is swung the plate swings to contact the freely movable members of the slides that are pushed rearwardly and latched, thereby simultaneously opening selected valves to allow flow of liquid, each freely movable member being a ball and the actuating plate having a recess to engage each ball when the plate is moved, said movement releasing the latch engagement between the plate and the slide and at the same time holding the slide by the said recessin the plate catching the ball, each of said valves having a valve stem and an actuating head which the ball contacts to control the operation of the valve, the said head also having a spherical recess to engage with the ball when the slide and ball is pushed rearward.

9. A mixing faucet having in combination a body provided with a plurality of guideways running fore and aft and a plurality of valve chambers intersecting the guideways at substantially right angles and directed up and down, a plunger in each guideway normally spring-pressed forwardly, a slide connected with each plunger, each slide provided with a recess, a freely movable member in each recess, an actuating plate supported for movement on said body and arranged when actuated to contact the freely movable members of such slides as are pushed to the rearward position, means for catching each slide and latching it in its rearward position, a handle connected with the plate for operating the same, the said chambers having valve seats and a plurality of valves, one in each valve chamber, arranged to be contacted and operated by said movable mem bers, whereby when the handle is swung the plate swings to contact the freely movable members of the slides that are pushed rearwardly and latched, thereby simultaneously opening selected valves to allow flow of liquid, the said actuating plate and lever being tiltably supported on trunnions.

10. A mixing faucet having in combination a body provided with a plurality of guideways running fore and aft and a plurality of valve chambers intersecting the guideways at substantially right angles and directed up and down, a plunger in each guideway normally spring-pressed forwardly, a slide connected with each plunger, each slide provided with a recess, a freely movable member in each recess, an actuating plate supported for movement in said body and arranged when actuated to contact the freely movable members of such slides as are pushed to the rearward position, means for catching each slide and latching it in its rearward position, a lever connected with the plate for operating the same, the said chambers having valve seats and a plurality of valves, one in each valve chamber, arranged to be contacted and operated by said freely movable members, whereby when the lever is swung the plate swings to contact the freely movable members of the slides that are pushed rearwardly and latched, thereby simultaneously opening selected valves to allow flow of liquid, an additional independent valve chamber, a separate passageway leading from a carbonated Water under pressure source to said valve chamber, a restricted,

outlet passage, and a valve located in said independent valve chamber with a valve stem located and guided in the body behind the other valves 8 and the actuating member, said independent valve having a projection which can be contacted by the actuating plate when the same is moved in a direction different than for operating the first mentioned" valves.

11. A mixing faucet having in combination a body provided with a plurality of guidewaysrunning fore and aft and a plurality of valve chambers intersecting the guideways at substantially right angles and directed up and down, a plunger in each guideway normally spring-pressed outwardly, a slide connected with each plunger, each slide provided with a recess, a freely movable member in each recess, an actuating plate supported. for movement in said body and arranged when actuated to contact the freely movable members of such slides as are pushed to the rearward position, means for catching each slide and latching it in its rearward position, a lever connected with the plate for operating. the same, the said chambers having valve seats and a plurality of valves, one in each valve chamber, arranged to be contacted and operated by said freely movable members, whereby when the lever is swung the plate swings to contact the freely movable members of the slides that are pushed rearwardly and latched, thereby simultaneously opening selected valves to allow flow of liquid, the

said actuating plate having catches secured to the underside, each catch arranged to be engaged by a lug on the corresponding slide when the slide is pushed rearwardly to temporarily latch the slide and the plunger in the rearmost position.

JAMES L. HUDSON.

REFEREN'CES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 999,041 Krall July 25, 1911 1,726,086 Travis Aug. 27, 1929 1,743,738 Travis Jan. 14, 1930 

